Program Reviews

My summer with ACLE was a very different experience to anything I could have imagined before taking the trip to Italy. Before going, myself and two friends who were also going to orientation with me, were very apprehensive about what the next month was going to involve.

Orientation:
We flew into Nice so had to travel across the border into Italy. This sounds fairly self explanatory, taking two trains, however the trains were quite run down and covered in graffiti etc.
We were met in the train station by Helen and Charlie and were driven to the golf resort. As my friends and I had requested to stay together, we were placed in a room with one other Canadian girl who was lovely. The room was nice (two sofa beds and a double bed) with an en suite bathroom and a mini fridge. We were given some time to relax before dinner and we were excited to start our training the next morning.
On the first day of orientation we were met by a warm up circle. This was a truly nerve wracking experience as we came to the realisation that we would have to do this, by ourselves in only a weeks time.
There was really nothing to worry about as the training days at orientation really prepared us for camp life. The ACLE Tutor Manual has everything you would ever need to know and more in it so you will never be stuck without ideas.
On the Thursday of Orientation we were given our first camps and who we would be going with. I was going to Foligno in the very centre of Italy with another Irish girl, Hilary. ACLE had arranged a bus to take everyone to Milan to get trains from there, however, myself and Hilary had to get an early morning train from San Remo to Rome. It took roughly 9 hours to get to Rome, then a further 2/3 to get to Foligno.
This wasn't as bad as it sounds actually as it gave myself and Hilary the chance to chat and get to know each other a bit more as we didn't really talk much during Orientation.

Camp 1 - Foligno
In some ways, Hilary and I were lucky in that our first camp was quite small. There was only one other return tutor and it just so happened that Foligno was her final camp so we were quite happy to let her do any activities that she thought had worked well in her previous camps and also this allowed us to take note of any activities not listed in the tutor manual.
Our camp director in Foligno had extremely limited English so the only way we could communicate with her was through the return tutor translating everything. The helpers in the camp were also useful for translating to the camp director. Apart from the language barrier she gave us everything we asked for and was happy to go along with anything we wanted to do.
In this camp I taught a level 2 class. They were very lively and hated doing the assigned worksheets that ACLE provides. This left me with a bit more work to do in planning lessons that they found interesting but a lot of arts and crafts seemed to be a big winner with this group. The children all had a good time at camp and the parents were all really happy with how the camp went.
The family I stayed with this week were lovely. I had my own guest house in their back garden which was great for a bit of peace and quiet, however, the internet from the family home wouldn't stretch that far so if I needed to use the internet at all I needed to go and sit in a chair outside the family's patio doors. The family were very accommodating to dietary requirements, they even got me to try quite unusual foods like rabbit and wild boar.
At the end of the week they threw myself and Hilary a dinner party in their garden. They invited Hilary's host family and the camp director and some of the assistants from the camp. It was a great time to relax and enjoy some good food and chat with Hilary about non work related topics.

Camp 2 - BORGONUOVO
Myself and Hilary were placed together for the second camp as well. We were in a smaller town where we could walk to camp every day and at lunch time we were allowed to go to a local bar to get pizza which was much more relaxing than eating a packed lunch with the campers. This camp was much larger than the first with 8 r so tutors, 4 of which were return tutors. This school was much more modernised than the last school so we had a large sports hall for whole camp activities which was nice and the classrooms opened up so we could use the outside space easily. The children at this camp (level 3) seemed to enjoy the ACLE materials a lot more than the first class which was a welcome relief for me as I didn't need to do much independent planning. The camp director was lovely and had great English. She was really cool and even took all the tutors and assistants to a fair on the last night, rave and all.
The family I stayed with lived in an apartment right above the gelato shop (how fab) and basically gave me a free reign to do anything I wanted when I was with them. When I first arrived in Borgonuovo, the dad picked me up and walked me to the house and informed me that the mum and daughters were at the seaside and wouldn't be back until the following evening. He was really nice though and took me to a supermarket to buy food that I liked to eat. The mum couldn't really speak any English and the daughters knowledge was limited also but it wasn't really an issue as the only time I really spent with them was dinner time. This is quite uncommon though as usually families like to plan activities in the evenings.

Camp 3 - Bergamo
This was my final camp and it was by far the largest. The camps have been running there for a really long time so the camp director was really skilled and knowledgeable about how the camp should be run. I had a level 2 class again for this camp but their level of English was much better than with my first class. They could easily follow along with what I said but would sometimes be lazy and wait for a helper to translate the activities rather than think about the task in English. I had a bit of a problem with behaviour in this group and parents who refused to believe that their child could possibly bully another child but instances like these are few and far between.
The family I stayed with this week were really the best. They were quite well off but really family orientated and down to earth so when I arrived and said that it was my birthday they immediately got to work throwing me a pizza party and baking a cake with their whole family. I was really nice to get to chat to them, as they all had really good English skills. Bergamo is a beautiful city and I got to see a lot of it thanks to my host family and the camp director.

Overall the experience was really positive, I made so many new friends and learned so much about teaching in general. However, a thing to note is, if you can, don't have a helper in your class. The kids will know that they are Italian and will wait for them to translate everything you say. Even when you tell the helper not to translate they often will begin speaking to the children in Italian which can be really unhelpful, especially when introducing a new concept or vocab.

FIngers crossed ill be able to go back to Italy for another ACLE summer soon!

I have worked for ACLE for the past this summer because I found the experience to be a fantastic and beautiful way to get to know a different culture, and while being paid at the same time. I've seen a circus on the top of the mountain, walked up another mountain, been to the most beautiful beaches and ideal country sides and been to places I would have never seen otherwise. Each new camp offers the opportunity to meet new native speakers from all around the world and work with bright Italian students. One of the best parts is living with a host family. They welcome you in with such open arms and do everything they can to make you comfortable! The work itself is so fun and rewarding. Speaking English, singing, dancing and playing games with kids is a pretty accurate description of your day to day life and by the time you fall asleep you are so tired, but so so satisfied.

I can say that for anyone interested who is interested in travel, alternative ways of teaching or learning about a new culture (or all three), this is the way to do it.

The programme offered by ACLE is very tutor-orientated, meaning that I was really cared for as a tutor and I felt that my opinions and comments were welcomed and appreciated. The scheme itself is so much fun! Morning sessions are devoted to classroom based learning, and this is through fun worksheets, games and songs, and the afternoons for show practise and fun and games! The kids get really involved and are so enthusiastic, its really encouraging to see!

The really special and unique thing about the scheme is the fact tutors get to live with host families. I have stayed in touch with all of my host families (I had 5!) and I made some really close bonds with them. The families feel privaliged to host a tutor and really take care of them. My families were all very keen to show me the best monuments, lakes, resturaunts, bars, pools etc etc. Some families took to me medieval cities which was just incredible! Also, there is nothing quite like Italian home-cooking....

My absolute favourite part of the experience was staying with host families and getting to know the other English tutors from around the globe! You never know whether you'll be out to the small town pizzaria with your host brothers and sisters or seeing the city at night with the other tutors and their hosts as well! Volleyball by the River Po? A traditional travelling comedy group? Learning to cook from Nonna and her 60+ years experience? So good!
The opportunity to see multiple parts of the country was great too. 1-2 weeks in each place helps give a real understanding of Italy.

Thinking about leaving your typical life behind for a summer? You're bored of your 9 to 5 job and daily routines and deadlines, aren't you? If you fancy yourself some sun and want to revolutionise childrens lives in Italy, then ACLE is what you need.
This experience is not one to miss.

Yes, you will get tired, and yes you will need those swimming pools your host families have, but yes, it is so worth it.
I spent 1/4 of my year in Italy, traveling almost every week, exploring and adventuring with some of the best friends I've ever made. It is an unreal life that you wont find anywhere else. Within a simple week you can make friends and build such strong connections with your camp directer, your students and the other tutors. Some of the places I got to see and work in, included: Milan, Rome, Florence, Brescia, Venice, Lake Garda, Trento, Bologna, and Verona; are you jealous? Then go apply!

ORIENTATION:
To start, you are thrown into a beautiful golf resort with so many people from many different cultures and countries, you are more than fully prepared for the crazy summer you're about to embark on. If you're nervous, after this week, you'll be absolutely fine! You are given, what I like to call "the book of life". A lovely handy book full of everything you'll ever need to know! Lesson plans, activities, songs and games! (Yes, songs. You'll learn to form a love-hate relationship for them and continue to sing them for a following year or so. The kids love them it's great). You'll be taught everything you need to know, and even get a day where you'll meet a group of students to help prepare you for your first class!

CITY CAMPS!
I was never left to travel alone from camp to camp and my trains were always well organised and on time!
I still miss all of my host families, and keep in contact with many of them! The host families are amazing, they help you learn Italian, and feed you more than you'll ever need to be fed! I was taken to some of the most beautiful parts of Italy that no holiday-goer would ever discover without a local! Lets not forget all of the major cities and events as well though! Including the EXPO at Milan.

The course is designed to train you to teach and expand your knowledge, but you're also given a study grant. Just keeps getting better! Paid to have the best summer of your life!

I couldn't tell you one favourite moment, there's so much i loved; from the morning hugs and endless "love you" cards and seriously random behaviour from some of my students. (They seem to love cross dressing and bursting into song at random points).
I think my favourite day at work has to be working at a lake, playing beach volleyball and teaching outside a beach hut in the sun shine! (obviously with sun cream on as it was 35 Degrees).
Your students help you as much as you help them, their enthusiasm and motivation to learn really makes you a passionate and energetic tutor. Tutoring English is a great way to improve your own confidence and really build self esteem.
Couldn't have wished for a better summer!

My time with ACLE was absolutely unbelievable! Such an incredible experience!

In regards of the organization itself it was always helpful when I had questions and I always felt like I was free to inquire as much as I felt necessary. The staff is helpful and very kinds.

The orientation is a great experience because you meet so many people from all over the world and in just that week you really develop connections with people. I have friends that I made in orientation that I'm going to visit this coming year. It's a huge group of like-minded people wanting to have a fun time while doing some teaching in the process.

The camps are obviously the biggest part of the experience and I had an incredible time at every single one. None of my directors were unpleasant or rude at all. They're excited to get to know you and have the best time possible for the kids.

The families were another thing that was perfect. I didn't have a single bad experience with any of the families I stayed with. They are so warm and kind and they really want to learn as much about your culture as possible. Italians are incredibly hospitable people and they will make sure you're comfortable and feel at home for the time you're with them.

I thoroughly enjoyed everything there was to my time working for ACLE. I was able to travel to some of the most beautiful places I had ever seen, meet incredible people and create connections all over the world, teach english to kids while having fun doing, and the food was really the cherry on top of the cake. I would recommend working for ACLE to anyone. It's really a life changing experience.

I had never been to Italy before. ACLE completely prepared me with a week of training at a beautiful mountain resort. What followed training was one of the most important experiences of my life! I saw Rome, Florence, Siena, Venice, Brescia, the Amalfi Coast, the Dolomites, and countless works of art and pieces of priceless history. The host families welcomed me whole-heartedly, and gave me the best of what they had to offer. I even learned some Italian, and by the end of three months, I could contribute to a conversation around the dinner table. Meanwhile, ACLE gave me a huge amount of material to work with. The tutor manual has so many songs, games, and activities that I couldn't possibly utilize them all. I felt the material was appropriately adjusted for the different levels, especially since the development of Process Drama for the older students. Even though Process Drama is challenging and needs some fine-tuning, it demonstrates how committed ACLE is to developing exciting, innovative teaching methods. I learned more than I can possibly write here, and I would recommend ACLE to any one I meet.

2015 was made incredibly special by ACLE. After graduating from university I craved adventure and a unique working life. From January to June I took part in ACLE's Theatrino Standard Tour - performing fairytales and comedy sketches in Italian schools. Although the work was exhausting; I thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of each day. It was an enriching experience and I always felt a sense of achievement as I left a school knowing that our work had made a positive impact.

I knew that when I left Italy in June I would miss the people, culture and work so the opportunity to work as a tutor was an easy decision to make. I persuaded my sister to join me on my second Italian adventure and she too fell in love with this beautiful country.

In order to be a successful tutor you have to inject personality, enthusiasm and passion into every working day. Being an English Tutor is an extremely rewarding experience and ACLE really need tutors who are imaginative, creative and fun-loving. Trust me - life is so much easier at camp when everyone is working their hardest! ACLE is like an extended Italian family and my time working with them has been unforgettable. They deserve to have tutors who want to make a positive change in the Italian scholastic system.

I think my headline explains itself. I love to travel and I am studying to be a teacher so ACLE caught my attention early on. However timing was never quite right for me to pack up my bags and leave for an entire summer. My family and friends finally convinced me to do it and I am so glad they did. I learned so much from my experience. It was amazing to work with people from all over the world. I tried to learn from everyone's different approaches to teaching because everyone has their own way of doing things. In doing so, I learned a lot about myself as well.

The days are long, hot and exhausting but seeing those children having so much fun at camp made everything worth it.

I started out my ACLE experience three years ago and quite frankly if I had to go right into detail of all of the pros and cons I would be here all day(only with the cons). So, I'll narrow it down and cut to the chase(or at least try). ACLE claim they are a 'non profit organisation' when in fact they are anything but. They offer NO contract. In hindsight, it sounds great: A summer living it up in Italy with free food and accommodation, amazing experience bla bla.. Generally, this is the case.

However, you could be placed with DREADFUL camp directors ( I had 3 awful ones out of 9 camps so not bad). Think ACLE will help? THINK AGAIN!
Also, you could be placed in a single family home- I had the two WORST TWO WEEKS OF MY ENTIRE LIFE!! The sheer lack of food and general care for me was incomprehensible- told, not asked to babysit (families are told by ACLE not to do this), gritty neighbourhoods where I genuinely was afraid to walk through and not to mention the family's general lack of wanting me to be there.
The ACLE office do not care about you! No, I am not just saying this.. they literally DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU!

They will mislead you about where you are going to be placed (eg, I asked to be placed near to my airport city and of course, classic ACLE sent me three hours away even though their staff told me BEFORE I BOOKED MY TICKET FOR ITALY that I would be placed in that particular city).
The money is NOT worth the experience- and I really mean that. While I have had three fantastic summers (because of my students, tutors and families not ACLE) it does in NO WAY make up for it. You are literally working from 8:30-5/5:30 everyday not to mention your travel day (Saturday) and get paid a measly 240 a week-JOKE!!!!! I could work less hours at home in Ireland a week and get more!
They don't send enough materials to camp-EVER!
The new teaching method is useless. If you know anything about TEFL you will not support their new 'teaching methods'- if it deserves that name even- I'm convinced a monkey came up with some of the ideas but that would be insulting all monkeys!!

Now, just to make it clearer for you.. some pros and cons...

Pros:

Teaching in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Get to visit places tourists would never go because you are living with Italians.

Amazing food and weather 99% of the time.

Easy and handy flights if you're travelling from Ire/UK.

They pay on time (see cons).

Make new friends.

Life experience.

Cons:

Although they pay on time, they might as well give you a bag of peanuts- because that's what it feels like they're paying (at least they taste nice too).

DISORGANISED

They don't give two shizzles about you and you better believe it.

Favouritism exists within this company like there is no tomorrow.

They will drop you like the drop of a hat if you give them the slightest problem and remember-NO CONTRACT so there is no proof that you ever worked for them (no, your FB posts and pictures of your amazing Italian experience won't help you here, SOZ!).

They will go out of their way to do whatever the opposite of what you asked them to do (Because they are... I'll let you fill in the blanks).

You could work with amazing tutors- or total know-it-alls who actually know NOTHING.

Camp directors can be USELESS and/or control freaks.

Your host family can smother you (especially if it's their first time to have a tutor).

Long hours for a sometimes not so rewarding job.

Travelling on the trains is awful and you are sometimes left without a seat on a long journey.

You may have to share a room with a tutor (terrible situation if you don't really see eye-to-eye).

THEY ARE A TERRIBLE COMPANY-seriously, three years, nine camps, and ten host families later I don't know how I ever went back to them. I would NOT recommend this company to anybody!!!

Go elsewhere around Europe, even around Italy- you owe it to yourself!
The stress and hassle of putting up with ACLE is not worth it!